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A closer look at some of the best defenses in Vikings history

By Mark Craig

October 19, 2016 at 5:23AM

Best defenses in Vikings history

The Vikings have the NFL's No. 1-ranked scoring defense (12.6 points allowed per game) through five games. The franchise won its only three scoring defense titles from 1969 to 1971. They've ranked in the top five 10 times:

YearRankPPGRecord

2015518.911-5, lost wild-card game

1988214.611-5, lost in divisional round

1986517.19-7, missed playoffs

1976212.611-2-1, lost Super Bowl XI

1975312.912-2, lost in divisional round

1974313.910-4, lost Super Bowl IX

1973212.012-2, lost Super Bowl VIII

197119.9 11-3, lost in divisional round

1970110.212-2, lost in divisional round

196919.512-2, lost Super Bowl IV

about the writer

Mark Craig

Sports reporter

Mark Craig has covered the NFL nearly every year since Brett Favre was a rookie back in 1991. A sports writer since 1987, he is covering his 30th NFL season out of 37 years with the Canton (Ohio) Repository (1987-99) and the Star Tribune (1999-present).